Agreement on the Kosi Project
The 1954 Agreement on the Kosi Project
(as revised in 1966)
Amended agreement between His Majesty’s Government of Nepal(hereinafter referred to as ‘HMG’) and the Government of India (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Union’) concerning the Kosi Project.
WHEREAS the Union was desirous of constructing a barrage, headworks and other appurtenant work about three miles upstream of Hanuman Nagar town on the Kosi River with afflux and food banks, and canals protective works on land lying within the territories of Nepal for the purpose of flood control, irrigation, generation of hydro-electric power and prevention of erosion of Nepal areas on the right side of the river, upstream of the barrage (hereinafter referred to as the ;Project;)
AND WHEREAS MHG agreed to the construction of the said barrage, headworks and other connected works by and at the cost of the Union, in consideration of the benefits arising therefrom and a formal document incorporating the terms of the Agreement was brought into existence on the 25th April , 1954 and was given effect to;
AND WHEREWAS in pursuance of the said Agreement various works in respect of the Project have been competed by the Union while others are in various stages of completion for which HMG has agreed to afford necessary facilities;
AND WHEREAS HMG has suggested revision of the said Agreement in order to meet the requirements of the changed circumstances, and the Union, with a view to maintaining friendship and good relation subsisting between Nepal, and India, has agreed to the revision of Agreement.
NOW,THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1. DETAILS OF THEH PROJECT
(i) The barrage is located about 3 miles upstream of Hunuman Nagar town.
(ii) The general layout of the barrage, the areas within afflux banks, flood embankments, and other protective works, canals, power house and the lines of communication are shown in the amended plan annexed to this agreement as Amended Annexure A.
(iii) Any construction and other undertaking by the Union in connection with this Project shall be planned and carried out in consultation with HMG.
Provided that such works and undertakings which, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement require the prior approval of HMG shall not be started without such prior approval;
And further provided that in situation described in Clause 3(iii) and Clause 3 (iv) intimation to HMG shall be sufficient.
(iv) For the purpose of Clause 3 and 8 of this Agreement the land under the ponded areas and boundaries as indicated by the plan specified in the sub-clause(ii) above, shall be deemed to be submerged.
2. INVESTIGATION AND SURVEYS
(i) Whenever the Chief Engineer of Kosi Project, Government of Bihar may consider any survey or investigation to be required in connection with the said Project, HMG shall, if and in so far as HMG has approved such survey or investigation, authorize and give necessary facilities to the concerned officers of the Union or other persons acting under the general or special orders of such officers to enter upon such land as necessary with such men, animals, vehicles, equipment, plant, machinery and instruments as necessary to undertake such surveys and investigations. Such surveys and investigations may comprise aerial and ground surveys, hydraulic, hydrometric, hydrological and geological surveys including construction of drill holes for surface and sub-surface exploration, investigations for communications and for materials of construction; and all other surveys and investigation necessary for the proper design, construction and maintenance of the barrage and all its connected works mentioned under the Project. However, investigation and surveys necessary for the general maintenance and operation of the Project, inside the project area, may be done by the Union after due intimation to HMG.
In this agreement, ‘the project area’ shall mean the area acquired for the Project.
(ii) The provisions of sub-clause (i) of this clause shall also apply to surveys and investigations of storage dams or detention dams on the Kosi, soil conservation measures, such as check dams, afforestation, etc required for a complete solution of the Kosi problems in the future.
(iii) The surveys and investigations referred to in sub-clause (i)and (ii) shall be carried in co-operation wit HMG.
(iv) All date, maps, specimens, reports and other result of surveys and investigations carried out by or on behalf of the Union in Nepal pursuant to the provisions of this clause, shall be made available to HMG freely and without delay. In turn, HMG shall, upon request by the Union, make available to the Union all data, maps, specimens, reports and other results of surveys and investigation carried out by or on behalf of HMG in Nepal in respect of the Kosi River.
3. AUTHORITY FOR EXECUTION OF WRKS AND USE OF LAND AND OTHER PROPERTY
(i) Provided that any major construction work not envisaged in the emended plan (Amended Annexure-A) referred to in clause I (ii) shall require the prior approval of HMG, HMG shall authorize the Union to proceed with the execution of the said project as and when the project or a part of the project receives sanction of the said Union and notice has been given by the Union to HMG of its intention to commence work on the respective constructions and shall permit access by the Engineer and all other officers, servants, and nominees of the Union, with such men, animals, vehicles, plant, machinery, equipment and instruments as may be necessary for the direction and execution of the respective constructions, to all such lands and places, and shall permit the occupation, for such period as may be necessary, of all such lands and places as may be required for the proper execution of the respective constructions.
(ii) the land required for the purposes mentions in Clause3(i) above shall be acquired by HMG and compensation thereof shall be paid by the Union in accordance with the provisions of clause 8 hereof.
(iii) HMG shall, upon prior notification, authorize officers of the Union to enter on land outside the limits or boundaries of the barrage and its connected works in case of any accident happening or being apprehended to any of the said works and to execute all works which may be necessary for the purpose of repairing or preventing such damage. Compensation, in every case, shall be tendered by the Union through HMG to the owners of the said land for all accidents done to the same in order that compensation may be awarded in accordance with clause 8 hereof.
(iv) HMG will permit the Union to quarry the construction materials required for the project from the various deposits at Chatra, Daran Bazar or other place sin Nepal.
4. USE OF WATER AND POWER
(i) HMG shall have very right to withdraw for irrigation and for many other purpose in Nepal water from te Kosi River and from the Sun-Kosi river or within the Kosi Basin from any other tributaries of the Kosi River as may be required from time to time. The Union shall have the right to regulate all the balance of supplies in the Kosi Roiver at the barrage site thus available from time to time and to generate power in the Easter Canal.
(ii) HMG shall be entitled to obtain for use in Nepal any portion up to 50 per cent of the total hydro-electric power generate by any Power House situated within a 10-mile redius from the barrage site and constructed by or on behalf of the Union, as HMG shall from time to time determine and communicate to the Union:
Provided that:-
HMG shall communicate to the Union any increase or decrease in the required power supply exceeding 6,800 KW at least three months in advance.
(iii) If any power to be supplied to Nepal pursuant to the provisions of this cub-clause is generated in a power house located in Indian territory, the Union shall construct the necessary transmission line or lines to such points at the Nepal-Indian border as shall be mutually agree upon.
(iv) The tariff rates for electricity to be supplied to Nepal pursuant to the provisions of this clause shall be fixed by mutual agreement.
5. LEASE OF THE PROJECT AREAS
(i) All the lands acquired by HMG under the provision of clause 3 hereof as of the date of signing of these amendments shall be leased by HMG to the Union for a period of 199 years from the date of these amendments at an annual Nominal Rate.
(ii) The rent and other terms and conditions on which land for Western Kosi Canal shall be leased by HMG to the Union pursuant to this Agreement shall be similar to those under sub-clause (i).
(iii) The rent and other terms and conditions of any other land to be leased by HMG to the Union pursuant to this Agreement shall be fixed by mutual agreement.
(iv) At the request of the Union, HMG may grant renewal of the leases referred to in sub-clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) on such terms and conditions as may mutually agreed upon.
(v) The sovereignty rights and territorial jurisdiction of HMG, including the application ad enforcement of the law of Nepal on and in respect of the leased land shall continue unimpaired by such lease.
6. ROYALTIES
(i) HMG will receive royalty in respect to power generated and utilized in the Indian Union at rates to be settled by agreement hereafter:
Provided that no royalty will be paid on the power sold to Nepal.
(ii) HMG shall be entitled to receive payment of royalties from the Union in respect of stone, gravel and ballast obtained from Nepal territory and used in the construction and future maintenance of the barrage and other connected works at rates to be settled by agreement hereafter.
(iii) The Union shall be at liberty to use and remove clay, sand and soil without let or hindrance from lands leased by HMG to the Union.
(iv) Use of timber from Nepal forest, required for the construction, shall be permitted on payment of compensation. Provided that no compensation will be payable to HMG for such quantities of timber as my be agreed upon by HMG and the Union to be necessary for the use in the spurs and other river training works required for the prevention of caving and erosion of the right bank in Nepal.
Provided likewise that no compensation will be payable to the Union for any timber obtained from the forestlands leased by HMG to the Union.
7. CUSTOMS DUTIES
HMG shall charge no customs duty or duty of any kind, during the construction and subsequent maintenance, on any articles and materials required for the purpose of the Project and work connected therewith.
8. COMPENSATION FOR LAND PROPERTY AND FOR LAND REVENUE
(i) For assessing the compensation to be awarded by the Union to HMG in cash:-
(a) Lands required for the execution of various works as mentioned in clause (ii) and clause9(i); and
(b) Submerged lands will be divided into the following clauses:-
1. Cultivated lands.
2. Forest lands.
3. Village lands and houses and other immovable property standing on them.
4. Waste land.
All lands recorded in the register of lands in the territory of Nepal as actually cultivated shall be deemed to be cultivated lands for the purpose of this clause.
(ii) The Union shall pay compensation:-
(a) to HMG for the loss of land revenue as at the time of acquisition in respect of the area required, and
(b) to whomsoever it my be due for the lands, houses and other immovable property acquired for the Project and leased to the Union.
The assessment of such compensation and the manner of payment shall be determined hereafter y mutual agreement between HMG and the Union.
(iii) All lands required for the purposes of the Project shall be jointly measured by the duly authorized officers of HMG and the Union respectively.
9. COMMUNICATIONS
(i) HMG agrees that the Union may construct and maintain roads, tramways, railways, ropeways, etc., required for the Project in Nepal and shall provide land for these pruposes on payment of compensation as provided in clause 8. Provided that the construction of any roads, tramways, railways, ropeways, etc., outside the Project area shall require the prior approval of HMG.
(ii) Any constructions, required in the interest of construction, maintenance and proper operation of the Project, regarding the use of the roads, etc., referred to in sub-clause(i) by commercial or private vehicles may be mutually agreed upon. In case of threatened breach or erosion of the structures on account of the river, the officers of the Project may restrict public traffic under intimation to HMG.
(iii) HMG agrees to permit, on the same terms as for other users, the use of all roads, waterways and other avenues of transport and communication in Nepal for bona fide purposes of the construction and maintenance of the barrage and other connected works.
(vi) The bridge over Hanuman Nagar barrage shall be opened to public traffic. With prior approval of HMG, the Union shall have right to close the traffic over the bridge temporarily if an in so far as required for technical or safety reasons. In such cases, the Union shall take measures required for the most expeditious reopening of the bridge.
(v) HMG agrees to permit installation of telegraph, telephone and radio communications in Nepal for the bona fide purposes of the construction and maintenance of the Project.
Provided that the Union shall agree to the withdrawal of such facilities, which HMG may in this respect, provided in future.
Further provided that the Union shall agree to permit the use of internal telephone and telegraph in the Project area to authorized servants of HMG for business in emergencies provided such use does not in any way interfere with the construction and operation for the Project.
10. NAVIGATION RIGHTS
All navigation rights in the Kosi River in Nepal shall rest with HMG. Provision shall be made for suitable arrangements at or around the site of the barrage for free and unrestricted navigation in the Kosi River, if technically feasible. However, the use of any watercraft like boat, launces and timber raft within two miles of the barrage and headworks shall not be allowed on grounds of safety, except by special permits to be issued by the competent authority of HMG in consultation with the Executive Engineer, Barrage. While issuing the special permits within two miles, HMG shall keep in view the safety of the headworks and the permit holders.
11. USE OF NEPALI LABOUR
The Union shall give preference to Nepali labour, personnel and contractors to the extent available and in its opinion suitable for the construction of the Project but shall be at liberty to import labour of all cases to the extent necessary.
12. CIVIC AMENTIES IN THE PROJET AREA
Subject to the prior approval of HMG, the Union may, in the Project area, establish schools, hospitals, water-supply systems, electric supply systems, drainage and other civic amenities for the duration of the construction of the Project. On completion of construction the Project, any such amenities shall, upon request by HMG, be transferred to HMG, and that, in any case, any such amenities shall, upon request by HMG, be transferred to HMG, and that, in any case, all function of public administration shall, pursuant to the provisions of clause5(v) be exercised by HMG.
13. ARBITRATION
(i) Any dispute or difference arising out of or in any way touching or concerning the construction, effect or meaning of this Agreement, or of any matter contained herein or the respective rights and liabilities of the parties hereunder, if not settled by discussion shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this clause.
(ii) Any of the parties may by notice in writing inform the other party of its intention to refer to arbitration any such dispute or difference mentioned in sub-clause (i); and within 90 days of the delivery of such notice, each of the tw3o parties shall nominate an arbitrator for jointly determining such dispute or differences and the award of the arbitrator for jointly determining such dispute or difference and the award of the arbitrators shall be binding on the parties.
(iii) In case the arbitrators are unable to agree, the parties hereto may consult each other and appoint an Umpire whose award shall be final and binding on them.
14. ESTABLISHMENT OF INDO-NEPAL KOSI PROJECT COMMISSION
(i) For the discussion of problems of common interest in connection with the Project and for the purposes of co-ordination and co-operation between the two Governments with regard to any matter covered in this Agreement, the two Governments shall at an early date establish a joint ‘Indo-Nepal Kosi Project Commission’. The rules for the composition, jurisdiction, etc., of the said Commission shall be mutually agreed upon.
(ii) Until the said Joint Commission shall be constituted the ‘Co-ordination Committee’ for the Kosi Project shall continue function as follows:-
- The committee shall consist of four representatives from each country.
- The Chairman of the committee shall be a Minister of HMG, and the Secretary shall be the Administrator of the Kosi project.
- The committee shall consider among other such matters of common interest concerning the project as land acquisition by HMG for lease to the Union, rehabilitation of displaced population, maintenance of law and order.
- As soon as the said Joint Commission shall be consulted, the Coordination Committee for the Kosi Project shall be dissolved.
15.
(i) This present Agreement shall come into force from the date of signatures of the authorized representatives of HMG and the Union respectively and thereafter, it shall remain valid for a period of 199 years.
(ii) This present Agreement shall supersede the Agreement signed between the Government of Nepal and Government of India on the 25th April, 19564 on the Kosi Project.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned being duly authorized thereto by their respective Government have signed the present Amended Agreement.
Done at Kathmandu, in quadruplicate, this day, the 19th of December, 1966.
For the Government of India For His Majesty’s
Government of Nepal
……………………. ………………….
SRIMAN NARAYAN Y. P. Panta
Ambassador of India in Nepal Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Finance.
